Gemma’s Esti Top
I love when I receive the smaller amount of fabric as it is great for pushing you to think a little more creatively when deciding what to make.
This month was no exception, especially as it is a fabric I don’t tend to use as much as I should (another great reason for a surprise box, pushing you out of your comfort zone!)
The colour of the crepe is gorgeous and I wanted to make a garment that was ‘plain’ so as not to take away from it, which is actually not something I tend to make a lot as I favour prints, but something I noticed I need/am reaching for more in my wardrobe at the moment. It might sound strange, but I actually really struggled with what to make, as I kept looking at patterns and thinking ‘it isn’t fancy enough’ before coming to the realisation that sometimes simplicity is key and there is nothing wrong with a simple make! I’m trying to build more staples that I can mix and match with various outfits, so creating something ‘plain’ is ideal.
From this, I settled on a pattern that I realised I had overlooked for a while for this very reason – the Tilly and the Buttons Esti top. It is a very simple pattern and looks great, just what you need in the ‘jeans and nice top’ vibe we often describe. Despite having made a couple when it first came out, I had neglected this pattern since, and realised it was a perfect match.
Crepe can be slightly tricker to work with as it moves a lot more, I find making sure you cut it out accurately the most important part, so using a rotary cutter instead of scissors can help. This is why a simple pattern is great, as there won’t be as much complicated construction. The Esti is so straightforward (as Tillys instructions are always superb) that it was a joy to make, and who doesn’t love whipping up a new top in an afternoon?!
I think this fabric and pattern match is the palette cleanser I needed, and certainly a lesson that something plain and simple is just as great as complicated and fancy.
However…
In true Gemma style I couldn’t help myself and just leave it ‘plain’, so chose to add ric rac trim to the straps, top of the front and back and also above the hem (which I realised after makes no sense if I wear it tucked in!) I chose cream which I think compliments the colour of the crepe perfectly and gives it that extra touch that satisfies my need to be slightly ‘fancy’!